wrefled in other Scriptures) rolating to fin. f Which is not only Expiation, and Remiſſon, hut the delivery of us from the lufts and corruptions of this preſent evil World. The Apoſtle here decy- phers this Worid, bv calling it preſ-zt and evil; by the firit, he hinteth to us, that there is a world ro come, by the latter he ſheweth the ſinful Practices of the greateſt part of Men, (tor by 1/7ri4 he means the Corruption of Perſons living in tte World, ) they are evil; and this was one end of Chrilt's Death to deliver his Saints from their evil Practices and Examples $; thus, 1 Zet. 1. 18. we are ſaid to be by the Blood cf Chrift redeemed from 4 vain converſation received by Tradition from our Firhers. This (he ſaith) was done g ac- cording tothe Will of God; the Greek word is !#a"n «*, not Nelizyy; the Will of God is his Decree, Purpoſe or good Pleaſure, fo as if fignifieth both his eternal purpoſe, ( accorging to Eph. 1. 4.) and his preſent pleaſure or conſent. I ſee no ground for the S9cinian criticiſm, who would have us underſtand by it, God's Teſt.1mz2mt Or preſent Will for things 10 be done ajrer d2ath; the word importeth no more than God's eternal purpoſe, as to the Redemption of Man by the Blood of Chriſt, and his well-pleaſedneſ with his Undertaking and per:ormance of that Work. This God, he calleth Our Father, not with refpect to Creatio: fo much as Adcption.
5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen h.
þ To which Father (yet not exciuding the Son,) for ſo great benefirs beſtowed upon us, be honour, and praiſe, from ag? to age, and to all eternity; the Term Amen, being always uſed in Scripture either as a Term of aſſ-rtion to aver the truth of a thing, or as a t2rm of wiſhing, may here be underſtood in either, or both ſenſes 3 the Apoſtle uſing it either to affert the gelorifying of God to be our Duty, and an homage we owe to God ; or to fignifie his hearty deſire, that this homage may from all hands be paid unto him.
6 I marvel that ye are ſo ſoon removed from him that called you unto the grace of Chriſt ;, unto another | goipel &.
/ The Apoitle here beginneth the matter and ſubſtance of his Epiftle, with a reprehenſion of this Church 3 which in ſome things i5 much qualified, in other things much aggravated. His expreſ- fing his reproof by the word m:1rve1, hath in it ſomething of miti- gation, and tignifieth his better hopes concerning them. The term r2moved, alſo mollifies the reproof, the Apoſtle thereby rather charg- ing their Apoſtacy upon their Sedficers, than upon them who were ſeduced, (though they were not to he excuſed for their ſo yielding to the temptation, and that in ſo ſhort a time, either after their firft converſion, or after the firſt attempts upon them to ſeduce them ) and herein was the aggravation of their guilt, that they very little reſiſted the temptation , but were preſently overthrown by it. But it was a greater aggravation of their guilt, that they ſuffered themſelves to be removed from him that called them. Tnterpreters doubt whether this be to be underſtood of Go4, or of Paul; and if of God, whether of the firſt or of the ſecond Perſon. That which inclineth ſome to think that Paul meant himſelf, was his inſtrumen- tality in the converſion of theſe Galarions 3 and his complaints of them in this Epiftle, for their deſerting his Doctrin and alienation from him ; But then the Subſtantive to the Participle muſt be un- derſtood, and the ca] muſt be underftood of the external call only, by the Miniſtry of the Word. It therefore ſeemeth rather to be underſtood of Gol; the Apottls generally aſcribing calling to God. Chap. 5. 8. 1TE-fſ. 5. 24. 2 Theſſ. 2. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 2, 15. 2 Pet 1.3. Nor doth it ſeem: proper to refer the a&ion to Chriſt, becauſe the Apoſtles ordinarily aſcribe calliag to the firſt Perſon in the Trinity, calling us by Chrif, as Rom. $. 30. 2 Thefſ. 2. 12, 14, 16. 2 Tim. 1. 9. 1 Pet-5. 10. Beſides the Grace of Christ is here made the Term to which they are called. And though this would ſupply the Par- ticiple with a Subſtantive in the Text, without underftanding one, yet it ſeems both too remate, and alſo to alter the ſenſe of the Text ; making it to run thus, from Chris that called you unto Grace, inſtead of him that called you to the Grace of Chrii. By which Grace the A- poſtle doubtleſs means not the Dorin of the Goſpel only, (though that be ſometimes called Grace,) but all the benefits of the Goſpel, Fuſtification, Reconciliation, Adoption 5 which are all properly called the Grace of Chriſt, as being the Purchaſe of his Blood. &k To another Goſpel, that is, to the imbracing of other Doctrin, differing from the Do&rin of the Goſpel, though it be brought to you by Seducers under that notion ; ſhewing you another pretended way of Salvati- on than by the merits of Jeſus C hriſt, whereas God hath giver 19 Other name under Heavenneither 1s there Salvation in any other, Atts 4.12.
7 * Which is not another /, but there be ſome *
1 Another Dodrin it is 3 but another Dotrin or glad Tidings of Salvation, or another Goſpel of Chriſt, it is not; for there is no Other. m1 In and by the new notions they bring, they do but trou- ble you, and pervert the true Dodtrin of the Goſpel z though they uſe the Name of Chriſt, and of his Goſpel, they do it falfly; for by making the works of the Law, and the obſervance of them neceſ- fary to be by you obſerved in order to your Salvation, they quite deſtroy and pervert the glad Tidings of Salvation, viz. that vie are ſaved by Chriſt alone, and Faith in him, and by a Righteovſneſs vithout theſe Works.
8 But thongh * we, or anangel from Heaven preach
9 As we faid before, ſo ſay Inow again, If any man
GAL ATIANYS
Y The Apoitle, by this vehement exprefiion, doth no TOre un. poie 17 poſſible that an heavenly Anzel ſhould publiſh to thera any otner way of Salvation than what he had publiſhed, than cha = _—_ might ſv contradict his own Doerin, .He only By i? A{Cares ms certainty of the truth, which he hae delivercs to them « it was no to be contradifted either by Man or Ans-! and GR ther t-acheth us, that additions to the BoArins of the Goſhci. make anoth-r Gotpcl. God neither allowins us to add to, nor ro diminiſh trom 27cine Revelations, for of this nature were the Corruptions crept into this Church. Theſe Seducers owned Chriſt ang the Doetrin of the Goſpel; only teaching the Jewiſh Circumciſion,